Tabanou brace sinks Nancy

Nancy's survival hopes receded even further on Saturday night as the Ligue 1 basement boys lost 2-1 at Toulouse.

Nancy's survival hopes receded even further on Saturday night as the Ligue 1 basement boys lost 2-1 at Toulouse. Franck Tabanou's second-half brace put the mid-table hosts in control and, although Lossemy Karaboue halved the deficit two minutes from time, it was too little too late. The loss means Nancy have still won just once in the league this season and are now eight points from safety. The visitors had the first sight of goal when Romain Grange fired inches wide from 20 yards, but at the other end a Tabanou header skimmed the top of the bar. Nancy gave as good as they got in the opening period and a Ziri Hammar curler also bushed the top of the bar on its way over, but Tabanou was proving a real handful. The midfielder threatened again on the stroke of half-time when he ran on to a Pantxi Sirieix pass and let fly with an instant shot which goalkeeper Damien Gregorini did well to push away. Soon after the break Tabanou turned provider for Cheikh M'Bengue to lash a shot against the bar. Toulouse still had to be alert at the back, though, with keeper Ali Ahamada called on to block a Grange volley from the right of the area. But they went in front in the 56th minute, and predictably Tabanou was at the heart of it. He rose high to head home at the back post from Serge Aurier's right-wing cross. Gregorini then denied Moussa Sissoko from inside the area, but could do nothing about Tabanou's second in the 77th minute. Etienne Capoue made ground before feeding Tabanou, who burst into the area, created space for a shot and then scored with an angled effort. It looked all over for Nancy, but they showed spirit to pull one back, Joel Sami delivering a good ball and Karaboue catching out Ahamada with an early shot. But there was no time for another as the visitors slipped to another defeat.